Since Han
kook introduced us to their new Standard Touring All-Season tire, the
Hankook Optimo H727, results have shown the tire to be a solid performer and an excellent value option for many drivers. Customers really enjoy driving on this tire as it's currently the top-rated tire in our
Tire Survey Results.
When we
tested the Optimo H727 we were impressed with its comfortable and soft ride, as well as the tire's low noise. The test results also showed that we would like to see an improvement of traction in the wet. However, compared to most Original Equipment tires, this tire is still a big improvement at an affordable price.
This tire is offered in 23 different size suitable for many popular sedans, minivans and compact cars. They are offered with a 5-year/100,000 treadlife warranty. They have a UTQG rating of 700 A B and are T-speed rated. To gain a better understanding of UTQG ratings, read "
Uniform Tire Quality Grade (UTQG) Standards."
If you o
wn a sport truck, SUV or vehicle capable of fitting 20" and larger wheels, you may have become accustomed to paying high prices for tires or sacrificing quality to meet your budget. Recently, as larger wheel and tire assemblies have become more mainstream, the cost for these larger tires have fallen.
Although tires that feature a larger inside diameter and width may never be as cost-effective as traditional 15-17" sizes, it seems that on a daily basis I'm able to stun customers with prices that are lower than they expected.
One of my favorite selections to recommend to customers looking for a 20"-28" tire is the
Yokohama Parada Spec-X. This tire, available in 39 different sizes, makes selection easy and affordable. With a
speed rating of either H or V, these Yokohama tires also meet most manufactures' requirements for use on today's high performance vehicles. Featuring an all-season compound with a host of biting edges, the Yokohama Parada Spec-X is designed for use in all climates.
If you're looking for Yokohama tire reviews of the Parada Spec-X take a look at our
Tire Survey Results.
With winter in full swing and temperatures dropping across the nation, it's never been more important than now to carefully monitor your tire pressure.
Underinflated tires cause vehicle imbalance, promote irregular wear and can cause load-carrying capacity issues. When the temperature drops, the air inside your tires naturally contracts at a rate of about 1 psi per 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, it is natural for air pressure to permeate through the tire's rubber sidewall at an additional rate of approximately 1 psi per month regardless of temperature.
This means that if you had set your tire pressure at 36 psi on a 70 degree summer day (six months ago) and the pressure has since dropped to 30 degrees, your tires at this moment could have as little as 26 psi in them.
Checking your tire pressure on a monthly basis takes only a few moments and keeps you and your family protected during these cold winter months.
A wide array of tire pressure gauges are available at several price points including the cost-effective
Accutire Digital Pencil Air Gauge and the extremely accurate
Accutire Racing Air Gauge that measures to 1/10th a pound of psi pressure.
This year Kumho released their all-new Ultra High Performance All-Season tire, the
Kumho Ecsta 4X. We tested the tire this past summer and it came out on top. To see how the tire compared against the General G-Max AS-03, Hankook Ventus V4 ES H105 and Yokohama AVID ENVigor, read "
Testing Value-Priced Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires."
During testing of this tire, I was very impressed with its handling and responsiveness. There was no lag and the tire provided instant response to input. The Ecsta 4X's grip level was outstanding on both wet and dry conditions. I also thought the tire offered reasonable road noise and ride quality.
This tire is going to be a very popular choice for drivers of sports cars, sporty coupes and performance sedans for the aforementioned reasons. Offered in many sizes with a 40,000 mile treadlife warranty and Kumho's road hazard warranty, the Ecsta 4X is an affordable option that provides consumers with good value.
Due to the
recent sales success of the popular and newly redesigned Ford Focus, many customers have been calling in exploring their options for dedicated winter / snow tires.
This hot new hatch and sedan, dependent on trim level, came with 15"-17" wheel fitments and several different Original Equipment tire selections. Regardless of model and trim levels, the modern Ford Focus shares the same brakes and wheel hubs. This allows us to recommend and supply a large number of wheel fitments including steel wheels (car rims).
This season, Tire Rack's recommendation for a
Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package mirrors my own personal choice: the low-cost option of a 15" steel wheel paired with the
Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 tire is a hard to beat combination of performance and affordability. Of course, alloy wheels are available for those looking for a more aesthetically pleasing setup.
And if you could use some extra help on whether to choose an alloy or steel wheel, read "
Alloy vs. Steel Wheels in Winter Tire & Wheel Packages."
Finding 17" wheels that fit the 2007-2012 BMW 335i isn't easy due to the large brakes on the car. While many feel that the
Rial Salerno is a perfect balance of cost, appearance and quality for a
Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package setup, others like the
Sport Edition A7 as a lower-cost alternative.
New for this winter season, the affordable and popular Sport Edition A7 wheel is now in stock in a
black painted finish. I've already received many emails and interest in the new color, as the black finish helps hide brake dust and accepts BMW center caps just like the silver painted version of the wheel.
And with 45 different
Sport Edition wheels available, you're sure to find one that suits your driving style.
Did you kn
ow that
Tire Rack has
gift certificates available for purchase?
They're a great gift idea for that person you can't quite decide what to give. You can purchase
gift certificates in any denomination from $25.00-$5,000.00 and have them sent via U.S. mail (3-5 days) or if you're a last minute shopper, the certificate can be emailed directly to the lucky recipient in as little as 24 hours. You can even include a personal message. Unlike many gift certificates, Tire Rack's certificates don't expire for five years, so your recipient can really take his or her time deciding just how to spend it.
If you can't decide if your friend or family member is looking to replace brake rotors, buy adjustable shocks or purchase a set of affordable tires, our gift certificates allow them to purchase what they need for their vehicle!
Last winter I decided to install a set of dedicated winter / snow tires to our secondary family vehicle (Chevy Blazer) for those situations when the weather turns very nasty. Given I was on a budget, I selected the Firestone Winterforce based on the price, the
positive feedback and our
Tire Test Results. Even though adding steel studs in my new set of Firestone winter tires are legal in the state I reside, I decided against it, as I felt the option was not needed.
The aggressive directional tread pattern on my new set of Chevrolet tires is ideal for the heavy accumulations of snow we receive in Indiana and made a world of difference for my vehicle. Being able to stop and turn with more confidence in snow allowed me to feel much more "connected" to the road.
Firestone Winterforce tires should be installed in sets of four only. To understand why it's important to install winter / snow tires on all four corners, read "
Four Winter Tires...The Only Way To Go."
As the snow starts to fly, there's a mad rush for customers to get winter wheels and tires. However, should you order steel or alloy wheels with your
Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package? The decision depends on the vehicle, price, the customer's needs and availability.
Availability: Certain vehicles can only be installed with alloy wheels, as steel wheels are not designed as aftermarket rims (wheels) for all applications.
Price: Steel wheels are the most affordable option even when you add a set of
wheel covers to your purchase. However, the price differe
nce can be minimal at times and many customers choose alloy wheels because they prefer the look and ease of not purchasing wheel covers.
Appearance: Obviously, there are many more styles of alloy wheels available than the simple black steel wheels. For some drivers, this is important. For others, the black steel wheel is perfectly sufficient.
Performance: Alloy wheels offer several performance advantages over steel. Compared to a steel wheel, an alloy wheel is lighter, stronger and will not rust. To gain a better understanding of how to compare alloy to steel wheels, read "
Alloy vs. Steel Wheels in Winter Tire & Wheel Packages."
For drivers who experience winter driving year after year, purchasing a
Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package will save you money over time. With a Tires and Wheels Package, you eliminate mounting and balancing truck snow tires, SUV snow tires or any type of winter / snow tire on a different set of wheels. With a dedicated set of wheels, you can install the Tire & Wheel Package yourself and be prepared for any unexpected early storms. Also, be sure to look at affordable wheels such as steel wheels to lower the cost of your Tire & Wheel Package. If you have questions on whether steel wheels are the right choice for your vehicle, read "
Alloy vs. Steel Wheels in Winter Tire & Wheel Packages." Also, since many drivers prefer the simplicity and value of steel wheels, you can find if they're available for your vehicle by visiting our
Upgrade Garage.Let's say you're looking for a winter package for your
2002 Acura TL. After entering your vehicle's information, you will have the option of choosing between the 16" and 17" package. And if you need help choosing the proper tire for your Tire & Wheel Package, take a look at "
Understanding the Tire Performance Categories for Winter / Snow Tires." If you're looking for value and good deep snow performance the
Firestone Winterforce is a good tire choice for your Acura. Once you make your tire selection, our website will allow you to choose a steel wheel as an option. The factory Acura lug nuts are not compatible with the steel wheels, so we'll include new lug nuts for free.
Note: Steel wheels are not available for all Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Packages.
Shop by vehicle for winter / snow tires that work best for your vehicle.
Here in northern Indiana, winter tires are really a must to give you the greatest degree of mobility in the accompanying snowy and icy weather. With three vehicles and the need to store at least two sets of tires and wheels for each, I was beginning to feel buried in a sea of tires. I needed to come up with a solution to the impending chaos. Fortunately for me, Tire Rack has several
tire storage options.
Choosing the right tire storage solution can reduce clutter, improve tire care and enhance safety. Solutions to tire storage range from
wall mounted steel racks that hold one set of (4) tires, to covers for tires stored vertically and individual covers or totes that can help transport or store tires protected from the elements. Read Tire Rack's recommendations for
storing tires safely.
The Tire Storage Rack has a flexible design that allows room for a set of tires and wheels and can be adjusted to accommodate "aggressive" tire widths. The adjustable rack quickly attaches to wall studs providing a convenient and safe storage method. Its heavy-duty construction has been load tested to a weight capacity of 400 lbs. An average Tire & Wheel Package usually only weighs in the neighborhood of 150 lbs. This systems works great for my larger SUV tires. This wall mounted storage rack is easy to install with simple hand tools as you can see in the
Installation Instructions (PDF)
Another way to keep your tires organized is the Tire Garage. It allows you to store tires covered, keeping them clean, dry and protected. Tires are stored vertically to keep them organized and free up extra space in your garage or storage area. The Tire Garage is made of the same rugged, mildew resistant and weatherproof material used for boat covers. The material cleans easily and retains its color and strength after years of normal use. I chose the Tire Garage to store my son's tires as his are smaller than mine. The maximum tire diameter that this storage method can accommodate is 27". Even though the material used in this system protects tires from UV radiation, it is not recommended for outdoor use. Follow these handy Installation Instructions (PDF) for use.
The Tire Rack Seasonal Tire Tote is another storage option that affords you the opportunity to both store and/or transport your tires safely. *This "one size fits all" storage system takes the hassle and mess out of changing from winter tires to summer tires or transporting track tires in the trunk or on the back seat of a car. I like the totes for my wife's tires as her car has TPMS sensors that need to be initialized at the dealer when the tires are installed and I can transport them easier this way.
The heavy-duty, machine washable shell incorporates an extra strong, easy-to-carry handle and rugged polyester/nylon construction. The cover slips easily over the tire to protect clothing and a vehicle's interior from tire and brake residue. See how easy it is with the Installation Instructions (PDF).
There are also available optional wheel felts to help protect your nice alloy wheels from nicks and scratches during transport or storage. Both the Tire Totes and Wheel Felts are sold in pairs. With Tire Rack Tire Totes, tires stay neatly covered and stacked until next season or the next event. Winter is just around the corner. Pick the best storage solution for your tires at Tire Rack today.
*The Seasonal Tire Totes will fit tires from 22" to 31" in diameter and up to 11.5" wide.
2006 Porsche Cayman S With Standard Brakes
2011 Ford F150 FX4 4wd
